Kitchen & Housewares Capresso 454 CoffeeTEAM-S Coffee Maker/Burr Grinder Combination
- Built-in obsolescenceI did not purchase this item from Amazon, but bought it from a pricey local kitchen gourmet store. My husband and I gave it to ourselves for Christmas. We have owned it nearly 2 years now.
Pros: I liked the ability to grind and brew without forethought
Cons: You really have no control of how strong the coffee will be, if you like it strong and make a full pot. You must depend on Capresso to grind the right amount of coffee. The only control is to tell it you are making a full pot, and then only use half the water.
Another con: like many other reviewers, I lost the ability to grind the coffee altogether-not because there was any problem with the grinder, but because the LEDs, the master control of the unit went bonkers. I was able to set it once, when the light from my kitchen window shone on it just so, so I left it on that setting and didn't mess with the grinder anymore. That's all fine and good, until the next power outage. So, we have a coffeemaker which makes mediocre coffee (the water temp is waaay too low) and a huge grinder attached to it that is virtually useless.
I paid $299 for this machine. Daily trips to Starbucks, while probably more expensive, at least would make me feel as if I had gotten my money's worth.
Rating:
- great grind and brew machine, DISPLAY ALWAYS BREAKSReally like our capresso Machine, that being said, we are on our second and it needs replacing now too due to the display being broken AGAIN. We drink A LOT of coffee so we are always getting fresh grinds, and the taste cannot be beat. But beware of the display, it will break. also has to be held over the sink for the first pour as it spills. Going to try the thermal carafe one now....
Rating:
- Poorly designed, but cuteThe good features about this machine: it's cute the way it swings the filter and makes your coffee from freshly ground beans.
The bad features are many:
1. The keys get sticky rather quickly - can't really clean them well even with alcohol. LCD panel died later. Unfortunately, this machine is totally unusable without the control panel.
2. It's bulky and tall - it's not going to fit every countertop
3. It's inconvenient if you like to drink different coffee depending on circumstances. Stand-alone grinder is more convenient.
4. The coffee that it made was never superior to the one made by (much) cheaper coffee makers.
Rating:
- I like it despite its problemsI have experienced some of the same problems that others have already listed:
1. Temperature and brew time are substandard.
2. The display started losing some of its elements some time ago.
I've had it for about four years and have not had any other problems, but it averages less than a pot a day.
It is incomprehensible that Capresso makes such a piece of junk and expects you to pay a premium price.
Still, I like it for convenience and taste so I'll look seriously at the new version but I will approach it like its Made in China. They definitely haven't earned my loyalty and only merit my recommendation that you spend your money elsewhere.
Rating:
- Great javaThis system delivers much better tasting coffee than my Cuisinart ever did. It is easy to use; much, much easier to clean. I do wish the coffee was a bit hotter, but I just heat up the milk before I add the coffee. I have not had any spillage problems with water or grounds. Do be forewarned that you should not use flavored beans, especially the powdered ones as it will gum up the works, and that the spout on the carafe is quite shallow and you could spill coffee if you pour too fast. Overall I am delighted with my new coffee maker.